Photographic camera and shutter mechanism therefor



Jan. 45, 1954 c, MAYO 2,664,800

PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA AND SHUTTER MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed Sept. 25, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEQ Jan. 5, 1954 A. c. MAYO 2,664,800

PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA AND SHUTTER MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed Sept. 25, 1950' 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 a INVENTOR BY I I i-412w, m

ATTORNEY.

Jan. 5, 1954 A. c. MAYO 2,664,800

PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA AND SHUTTER MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed Sept. 25, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Jan. 5, 1954 A. c. MAYO 2,664,800

PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA AND SHUTTER MECHANISM THEREFOR Fil ed Sept. 25, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR f L'ATTORNEYJ A. C. MAYO Jan. 5, 1954 PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA AND SHUTTER- MECHANISM THEREFOR 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 25, 1950 N. QQ m w INVENTOR BY P ZL M ATTORNEYS Jan. 5, 1954 A. c. MAYO 2,664,800

PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA AND SHUTTER MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed Sept. 25, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTO Ab ATTORNEYS Fatented Jan. 5, 1954 PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA AND SHUTTER MECHANISM THEREFOR Alfred Croger Mayo, Richmond, England Application September 25, 1950, Serial No. 186,547

Claims priority, application Great Britain October 5, 1949 2 Claims. (01. 95-55) This invention relates to photographic cameras, and especially to shutter mechanism for such cameras.

One object of the invention is to provide a focal plane shutter using plates of rigid material and combining the simplicity of the usual plate type of shutter with the compactness of the roller blind type, and in which the overall dimensions of the shutter mechanism do not increase in proportion to the size of the exposure frame of the camera.

Another object of the invention is to produce a photographic roll film camera of compact size having a shutter system which operates over a wide range of exposure speeds, the setting of the shutter and the winding of the film being effected by a single operation and the camera being simple in construction.

According to one feature of the invention a shutter for a photographic camera comprises a plurality of relatively slidable overlapping plates movable from a telescoped position in which they lie wholly to one side of the picture gate of the camera to an extended position in which they form a blind extending wholly over the picture gate.

According to another feature of the invention a shutter system for a photographic camera comprises leading and trailing shutters which move in succession across the picture gate during an exposure, each of the said shutters comprising a group of overlapping slidable plates as set forth in the last preceding paragraph, one plate of one shutter being attached to the camera at one side of the picture gate and one plate of the other shutter being attached to the camera at the other side of the picture-gate, the two shutters being adapted to engage each other at their free edges to form a light-tight joint.

The invention is hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a front perspective view of one form of camera according to the invention;

Figure -2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a diagram showing one form of shutter mechanism according to the invention, in the position which it occupies prior to setting for making an exposure;

Figure 4 is a diagram similar to Figure 3, but showing the shutter mechanism in the position it occupies during a time or bulb exposure;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the camera chassis, with some parts omitted;

Figure 6 is a detail view showing the construction of the shutter itself;

Figure '7 is a front View of the camera chassis removed from its case;

Figure 8 is a plan view of the camera chassis, showing the mechanism for setting the shutter and determining the exposure, the camera being shown in section;

Figure 9 is an end view looking from the lefthand end of Figure 6;

Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13 are views similar to Figure 8, showing the positions of the parts for various exposures, Figure 10 showing the camera set for a short instantaneous exposure, Figure 11 showing the camera set for a longer instantaneous exposure, Figure 12 showing the camera after the leading shutter has been released to effect a bulb exposure, and Figure 13 showing the camera after the leading shutter has been released to effect a time exposure; and

Figure 14 is a section on the line iL-l l of Figure 8.

Referring to the drawings (Figures 1 and 2), the camera comprises a case formed in two parts [0 and l I, a lens unit [2 mounted in the case part [0, and a chassis l3 removably mounted in the case and carrying the shutter, shutter operating mechanism, and film winding mechanism,

The case part I0 includes a front it to which is secured a ring [5 to receive the lens unit 52, a top 16, and ends I! and I8 bent round to define film compartments [9 and 2|. The case part it includes a bottom 22, flanged to overlap the edges of the front and sides,,and a back 23 closing the space between the ends H and It, the back 23 having flanges 23a (Figure 8) which enter grooves 25 in the ends to provide a light-tight joint. The upper end of the back passes behind a flange 26 at the rear edge of the top.

The chassis l3 (Figures 5 and '7 to 13) comprises a die casting El including upper and lower plates 28 and 29, a vertical wall 3| forming the front of a shutter housing 32, and struts 33 between the front edges of the plates 28, 29; a plate 34 secured to the casting 21 by screws and forming the back of the shutter housing 32; and a front plate 35 also secured to the casting by screws, the wall 3|, plate 34 and plate 35 having aligned rectangular openings, the opening 36 in the plate 34 forming the picture gate. A rectangular tube 31 (Figure 2) secured to the front plate 35 extends to the wall 3! to form a tunnel between the plate and wall.

The shutter system is located in the shutter housing and comprises two shutters 38 and 39 (Figures 2, 3, 5 and 6) each comprising three overlapping rigid, rectangular plates, the plates of the shutter 38 being shown at 4|, 42 and 43, and the plates of the shutter 39 being shown at M, 45 and it. The plates 53 and 48 are fiat, and are each provided with two projecting ears 4?, one at each end, adjacent one of their side edges each of these plates having secured to its side edge remote from the cars a metal bar which projects beyond the ends of the plate. The bar on the plate 43 is indicated at 48 and the bar on the plate it at 49. The remaining plates 4|, 52, iii and d5 have bent-over portions 5i lying parallel to the main parts of the plates, the plates and 36 lying between the main parts and the bent-over parts of the plates 42 and 45 respectively, and the plates 42 and lying between the main parts and the bent-over parts of the plates 6i and respectively. The plates M, 42, 44 and t5 are provided with ears 5! similar to those on the plates 2-3 and 36. Each set of plates 4!, t2, t3 and t6, 5, at are of progressively decreasing width, and the plates ll, 42 and A l, 45 are provided with lugs 52 which co-operate with the ears on the plates t2, t3 and d5, 35. Thus each set of plates is capable of telescoping and extending movement, the plates when fully telescoped being substantially completely overlapped by each other, so that their total width is substantially that of a single plate, and when fully extended having a total width somewhat less than the sum of the width of the plates. The telescoping movement is limited by each plate engaging the bend between the main and bentover portions of the next succeeding plate, and the extension movement is limited by the ears ll on one plate engaging the lugs 52 on the other, which engagement takes place when the plates are still overlapped to a small extent. The shutters are thus at all times light proof.

The two shutters are located between the wall 32 and the plate 35, as shown in Figure 2. The wall 3! is formed with rearwardly extending flanges 5-3 which are cut away at 54, and upright bars 55 are secured to the plate 34 so as to lie within the cut-away portions 54. The shutter 38, which is hereinafter called the leading shutter is positioned in the housing so that it extends upwardly from below the picture gate 36, and when telescoped lies below the picture gate, upward movement of its plate M being limited by the engagement of the cars t! thereon with the lower ends of the bars 55. The shutter 39, hereinafter called the trailing shutter, is positioned in the housing so that it. extends downwardly from above the picture gate, and, when telescoped, lies above the picture gate, downward movement of its plate as being limited by the engagement of the ears 4'! thereon with the upper ends of the bars 55.

The ends of the bars 38 and 49 project through the cut-away portions 5d at the sides of the shutter housing, the ends of the bar 49 being longer than the ends of the bar 48, and the ends of both being bent forwardly and provided with apertures as shown. To each forwardlybent end of the bar it there are connected two links 55, El (Figures 3 and 4) extending upwardly and downwardly respectively. The links 56 are coupled to the free ends of two L-shaped arms 58 turning with a rocking shaft 55 mounted in lugs extending downwardly from the upper plate 28, the rocking shaft 58 having also an arm SI which projects upwardly through a notch in the plate 28. The links 5! are coupled to two straight arms 62 turning with a rocking shaft 63 journalled in lugs 64 integral with the struts 53 of the chassis, the rocking shaft 63 having also an arm to which is secured one end of a tension spring 66 anchored to the lower plate 253, the spring 66 urging the rocking shaft 63 to rock about its axis in such a direction as to pull the bar 58 downwardly. Links 87 are connected to the ends of the bar d9, these links being coupled to arms 63 turning with a rocking shaft 63 journalled in the struts 53, and having an arm 7! to which is secured one end of a tension spring '52 anchored to the lower plate 29, the spring '12 urging the rocking shaft 5% to rock about its axis in such a direction as to pull the bar 29 downwardly.

The rocking shafts 59, $3 and 65 together with the arms associated with them, are each made from a length of wire bent to the desired shape.

The spring lit thus tends to urge the leading shutter 38 to its telescoped position, and to hold the bar 4 8 against the lower ends of the cut-away portions 5d, whilst the spring 12 tends to urge the trailing shutter 39 to its extended position and hold its lower edge in contact with the upper edge of the leading shutter, so that the trailing shutter covers the picture gate.

The impact at the completion of the movement of the shutters for making an exposure is thus taken by the bars :8 and 59, and not by the shutter plates themselves, so that the said plates can be very thin and light.

Between the upper and lower plates 128 and 2d of the chassis, beyond one edge of the back plate 3%, there is journalled a shaft it (Figure 9) having fixed to it two toothed wheels 14 adapted to engage the perforations of a cinefilm, the shaft 13 carrying a crown wheel "35 meshing with a pinion it on a shaft l'fi which projects forwardly from the chassis and passes through the front i l of the case to receive an operating knob 53. The shaft 73 projects upwardly through the upper plate 2%, its projecting portion being square in cross section and having mounted on it for sliding movement a pinion 79 having a square hole, the pinion having a boss 85 which projects upwardly through a lug 32, and the pinion being urged upwardly against the lug by a spring 83. A toothed sector 3 (Figures 8 to 13) is mounted on a pivot 85 on the upper plate 28, the teeth on the sector meshing with the pinion l9 when the latter is in its upper position, but being disengaged by pushing the pinion downwardly. An 36 (Figures 8 and 10 to '13) formed integral with the sector 85 engages the arm ti, and, as the sector is rotated in a clockwise direction, moves the arm ti to rock the rocking shaft 59 and so extend the leading shutter, thus also telescoping the trailing shutter, until the former covers the picture gate and the latter lies wholly above the said gate. operating with a stop 8% on an angularly adjustable stop plate tii to limit the angular movement of the sector and thus determine the set position of the shutters. The stop plate 39 is adjustable about the pivot 35, and is locked in any position to which it is adjusted by a set screw passing through a slot in the said plate and screwing into a hole in the upper plate 28. The leading shutter is held in the set position solely by the friction in the mechanism by which it is set and by the resistance to movement of the film, but a catch is provided to hold the trailing shutter. This catch comprises a catch arm 92 The sector as carries a stop 8'1 00- (Figure 2) pivotally mounted at 93 on the wall 3i and having a nose 94 which is urged by a torsion spring 9b to engage below a flange 95 on the lower edge of the trailing shutter 39, the catch arm 32 having a pair of fingers 96 co-opcrating with the upper edge of a plate 91 pivotally mounted at 98 on the wall 3I, the pivot of the plate 9? being parallel to that of the catch arm 32, and being below the upper edge of the plate. Slidably mounted between the upper plate 28 and a guide plate 99 is a striker I9I (Figures 8 and to 13) comprising a flat strip of metal adjustably secured at [32 to a link I93 pivoted to one end of an arm I94 which is pivoted at its other end on the upper plate 28 at W5, a tension spring I06 mounted between the striker H35 and the arm I04 tending both to rock the striker itl backwardly towards the rear of the camera, and to urge the arm I04 in a clockwise direction about the pivot 505. The arm I04 engages at iii? with a cam I68 mounted on a shaft journalled in the upper plate 28 and in a cover plate III secured thereto, a stop disc M2 on the shaft limiting the movement of the cam to 180. The shaft I09 projects through the top of the case to receive an operating knob H3. The cam Hi8 is so formed that at one limit of its movement the striker is at one end of its movement, and rotation of the cam through 90 moves the striker continuously towards the other end of its movement, further movement of "re cam causing the striker first to return some distance towards its initial position, and finally to move to an extreme position beyond that which it occupies at the end of the first 90 of movement of the knob. The rear edge of the striker Edi constitutes a cam edge comprising two straight portions H4 and H5 joined by a ramp lit, a finger Ii! being provided on the straight portion H4.

A rod I It is pivotally attached to the toothed sector 8 at a point offset from the pivot of the sector, the rod E E8 having a projection I I9 which passes downwardly through slots I2I and I22 in the guide plate 99 and the upper plate 23 of the chassis, and passes, between these plates, across the rear edge of the striker IIlI. Thus, when the projection is opposite the part II 5 of the rear edge of the striker the latter is held back away from the plate 91, but when the projection rides down the ramp IIS on to the portion II4 the striker is urged rearwardly by the spring I96 to bring it into engagement with the plate 91 and so release the trailing shutter. As the projection H9 makes the same movement each time the shutter system is released, the interval between the release of the leading shutter and the release of the trailing shutter depends on the position of the striker, which determines the length of travel of the leading shutter before the trailing shutter is released. The rod H8 and projection H3 form a retaining member for keeping the striker iIlI in what may be termed the cooked position.

The striker Edi carries an upward projection I123 which, in certain positions of the striker engages, as the striker is released to release the trailing shutter, the arm I24 of an inertia delay device I25.

The release of the shutter system is effected by a release button I25 (Figure 1) acting on the fiat upper surface of a member I2I (Figure 8) one end of which is apertured at I28 to pass over the end of the shaft I3 and bear on the boss 8I of the pinion 13, its other end having two downwardly-projecting fingers I29 and I3I. The finger I29 is a guide finger and passes through aligned holes I32 and I33 in the guide plate 99 and the upper plate 28 of the chassis, the finger I3I passing down through a hole I34 in the guide plate 99 only. A spring I35 mounted on the finger I3I normally holds the end of that finger clear of the upper plate 28 of the chassis. At one position of the striker till, the finger III thereon is opposite the finger I3I on the member I21 and thus, with the striker in that position, when, the leading shutter is released by pressing down that member to disengage the pinion I9 from the toothed sector 84, the finger I3I is pressed down into the path of the finger H1, and the striker is prevented from operating to release the trailing shutter until the member I2I is released, thus providing for bulb exposures.

A counter I35 (Figures 1 and 7) is driven oif the shaft 13 to indicate how many exposures have been made.

The operating knob H3 is marked with exposure speeds from the maximum, for example /500 of a second to of a second, the markings extending over a range of and co-operating with an index I3! on the case. A further marking indicating the position of the parts for bulb exposures is provided about 45 beyond, the slow speed end of the instantaneous range, and a time exposure position is provided at a point 180 from the maximum speed marking. It will be apparent that the striker IQI will also be set to the bulb position at the centre of the instantaneous range, and the marked speeds are selected so as to avoid this position.

The shutter mechanism is rendered self-capping by providing an angle strip extending along the lower edge of the plate it of the shutter 39, one flange I38 of the angle strip projecting below the edge of the plate 46 so as to overlap the plate 43 of the shutter 38. The other flange of the angle strip constitutes the flange 95.

When making an exposure with the camera described, the knob is is rotated to set the shutters and move the film, the knob II3 being set, either before or after the setting of the shutters, to the desired speed. The rotation of the knob I8 causes the projection N9 of the retaining member to move along the rear edge of the striker IilI and ride up the ramp IIS on to the portion IIS of the said edge, thus rocking the striker forwardly. The catch arm 92 engages automatically with the flange 95 on the trailing shutter 39 when the shutters reach the set position, under the influence of the spring 90.

Figure 10 shows the position of the parts when the shutter mechanism is set and is adjusted for the highest available speed. The striker IBI is drawn as far as possible to the right, so that only the end of the part H5 of its rear edge closest to the ramp 5 is is opposite the plate 97, and the projection I IQ of the retainin member is in engagement with the end of the ramp l I5 nearest to the part I I5 of the said edge, so that the striker is rocked forwardly against the resistance of the spring Hi6. When the pinion i5 is pressed downwardly by the button I28, acting through the member I27, the toothed sector 84-, as soon as it commences to move, pulls the projection II9 clear of the ramp, and the striker swings rearwardly almost at once to strike the plate 9! and release the trailing shutter. The trailing shutter thus follows the leading shutter with very little delay, and the shutters travel across the picture gate with only a narrow slot between them. The projection 123 on the striker is, in this case, positioned beyond the end of the arm I24 of the inertia delay device, so the latter does not come into operation.

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10, but showing the shutter mechanism adjusted for a slower instantaneous speed, for example one tenth of a second. As will be seen, the cam Hi8 has been turned by the knob H3 to rock the arm H34 in a clockwise direction, and this has displaced the striker liil to the left, so that the projection He engages the edge H5 thereof at a point spaced some distance from the ramp H6. Moreover, the projection I23 on the striker is in a position to engage the arm 12d of the inertia delay device. Thus, when the release button I26 is operated, and the toothed sector 84 moves under the influence of the spring 66 acting on the leading shutter, the projection H9 does not reach the ramp i l 6 until the sector 84 has moved some considerable distance, and the leading shutter 38 has exposed a substantial part of the picture gate. When the projection H9 does reach the ramp ass the striker lei commences to move, but its movement is delayed by the inertia delay device E25, and thus the trailing shutter does not move until a substantial interval has elapsed.

Figure 12 is again similar to Figures 10 and 11, but shows the shutter mechanism after release of the leading shutter during a bulb exposure. The arm its has been turned somewhat anticlockwise irom its position in Figure 11 so that the finger 35 on the member 127 lies, when the member 12? is depressed, in the path taken by the finger H? on the striker when the latter is released by the projection H9. Thus, when the release button i25 is depressed, and the leading shutter is released, the striker 1 FM is, as shown in the drawing, prevented from completing its movement due to the finger Hi engaging the finger 1st, and the trailing shutter 39 is not released until the release button I28 is allowed to rise to its normal position.

Figure 13 shows the position of the parts during a time exposure, when the leading shutter 38 has been released and the trailing shutter 36 is still latched in its set position. As will be seen, the arm E64 is turned somewhat clockwise from its position in Figure 10, and the striker Hill has moved so far to the left that when the toothed sector 84 has been released and has returned fully to its initial position, the projection H9 is still opposite the ramp H6, and the striker is not able to engage the plate 97. The trailing shutter is released to terminate the exposure by turning the knob M3 to move the striker IEH relative to the projection H9, so that the projection H9 rides down the ramp and allows the striker to strike the plate 97.

It will he understood that the details of the mechanism of the camera may be varied without departing from the scope of the invention. The shutters may be greatly simplified if a separate capping shutter is used, the leading and trailing shutters then taking the form of sets of simple flat plates, linked together in any suitable manner, and having no overlap at the meeting edges of the two shutters.

I claim:

1. Shutter operating mechanism for a roll film camera comprising leading and trailing shutters which move in succession across a picture gate during an exposure, spring means acting on said leading shutter and separate spring means acting on said trailing shutter to effect the movement of the said shutters during an exposure, a rocking shaft, 9. pair of arms fixed to said rocking shaft, link means connecting said arms to the leading shutter, a third arm on said rocking shaft, a shutter setting arm mounted for angular movement and co-operating with said third arm to rotate the rocking shaft and move the leading shutter to a set position in which it covers the picture gate, means on said leading shutter to engage the trailing shutter and move it with the leading shutter during the setting movement, a toothed sector mounted to move as one with said shutter setting arm, an axially slidable pinion meshing with said toothed sector, means to rotate said axially slidable pinion, means frictionally restraining rotation of said axially slidable pinion, a rod pivotally connected to said toothed sector at a point oiiset from the pivot thereof, a lateral projection on said rod, guide means constraining said lateral projection to move in a rectilinear path, means to displace the axially slidable pinion and thereby release the toothed sector and leading shutter and move the lateral projection along its rectilinear path, a catch to retain the trailing shutter in the set position, a striker, spring means urging said striker in a direction to release said catch, a cam edge on said striker engaged by said lateral projection, said cam edge being so shaped that when the shutters are set the striker is held clear of the catch by the lateral projection and is released to free the catch when the lateral projection reaches a predetermined point thereon, and means for effecting substantially linear movement of the striker in the direction of movement of the lateral projection to vary the point in the stroke of the latter at which the striker is released.

2. Shutter operating mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for eliecting linear movement of the striker comprise a pivotally mounted lever extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of linear movement of the striker, spring means interposed between the lever and the striker and acting to urge the striker in one direction, and cam means engaging the lever to move the striker in the opposite direction.

ALFRED CROGER MAYO.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,122,671 Leitz et a1. July 5, 1938 2,173,991 Albert Sept. 26, 1939 2,222,041 Moomaw Nov. 19, 1940 2,275,807 Philips Mar. 10, 1942 2,347,951 Hunter May 2, 1944 2,358,061 Drotning Sept. 12, 1944 2,526,432 Svensson Oct. 1'7, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 822,401 France Sept. 20, 1937 478,710 Great Britain Jan. 24, 1938 

